Stocksbridge Park Steels 3 - Rotherham United XI 0

Millers go down at Stocksbridge

Rotherham United travelled the short distance to Bracken Moor last night to play Stocksbridge Park Steels in a pre-season friendly.

The Millers team consisted of mostly young players but there were also starts for Tom Pope, Mark Bradley, Marcus Marshall, Jamie Annerson, Luke Foster and trialists Jeff Smith.

The home side started off at a cracking pace and in the opening few minutes Mark Ward was unsuccessful against Annerson, once from a free-kick and then he had a shot that smashed against the crossbar. Jack Muldoon had a perfect chance to put Steels one up when he found himself clean through with only the 'keeper to beat but Annerson narrowed the angle and Muldoon shot wide. On twenty-five minutes Marshall, in his new yet unfamiliar role at right-back, brought down Chris Adams in the penalty area. Ward took the spot kick but saw his shot rebound off the post to safety. The home side finally scored on the half-hour mark when an overhead kick hit the bar and fell to Dominic Riordan who headed in from close range. Within minutes Steels were two up after some peculiar defending from the Millers saw Mark Bradley intercept a cross from Foster that was meant for Smith and with Annerson outside his area Bradleys looping shot went over him into the net. Before half-time it was three-nil when Muldoon got in a good pass to Matt Telling who neatly put the ball under Annerson`s body into the corner of the net. It could have been four but a thunderbolt shot from Adams hit the post.

In the opening minutes of the second half both Mitch Rose and Tom Pope could have scored for the Millers but Dave Ratcliffe in the Steels` goal was equal to both shots. On fifty-five minutes a curling shot by Pope was well saved by Ratcliffe and he also did well to save from Alec Denton a few minutes later. With ten minutes to go Annerson was quick off his line to get down to a shot from Andy Ring while, at the other end, a header from Pope brought off yet another good save from Ratcliffe. In the final few minutes the Millers tried to pull some goals back with Foster hitting the woodwork, Giorgio Williams, on for Rose, shot just wide and Denton didn`t quite make contact with a header.

All I can say is that my 'Roving Reporter` at the game wasn`t impressed with the Millers last night - let`s hope its better news after this evenings game at Don Valley against Scunthorpe United.

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